2000/08/01 by Kenneth L. Sokoloff, Stanley L. Engerman · 10 citations
Economics, Econometrics and Finance · Social Sciences · #Historical Economic and Social Studies #Culture, Economy, and Development Studies #Colonialism, slavery, and trade #Perspective (graphical) #National heritage #Economics #Contrast (vision) #Focus (optics) #Development economics #Political science #Economic geography #Sociology #Ethnology
paper · doi:10.1257/jep.14.3.217
openalex publication_date 2000/08/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
The explanations offered for the contrasting records of long-run growth and development among the societies of North and South America most often focus on institutions. The traditional explanations for the sources of these differences in institutions, typically highlight the significance of national heritage or religion. We, in contrast, argue that a hemispheric perspective across the wide range of colonies established in the New World by the Europeans suggests that although there were many influences, factor endowments or initial conditions had profound and enduring effects on the long-run paths of institutional and economic development followed by the respective economies.